Wei Chuchu, Cathy (Oriel college, 2012 - 2013 )

It has often been said that the key to the future is buried in the past; this is as true in life as it is in common law systems. My interest in the discipline emerged out of a close familial association with the legal profession and, following my father's precedent, I matriculated at the China University of Political Science and Law.

As the globalization is compelling harmonization and eventual merging of the Civil Law with Common Law, on November 26, 2010, the Supreme People's Court made a significant change in the Chinese legal system by adopting a rule creating a procedure to recognize a body of "guiding cases." Thrilled by this news, I volunteered to become a PRC Editor in the China Guiding Cases Project (CGCP) launched by Stanford Law School. It has provided me with a fresh perspective on the influence guiding cases may have upon the legal system in China: sentences can be passed with greater moral conviction and justice served, as guiding cases can limit discretion in - and thereby increase the fairness of - legal decisions. Later I furthered my involvement with "guiding cases", gaining an internship in the Supreme People's Court. Access to the first-hand cases and discussions with the judges there have left me with the impression that addressing China's current legal issues from a case-decision level would be highly effective. Thus, a bridge built by legal professionals with international vision and thinking pattern trained in a law school under the case law systems would be extremely helpful.

Those realizations and the four-month wonderful experience at Fordham Law School in the USA have greatly convinced me to pursue a further study in common law. Needless to say, you cannot tell how excited the moment I got the offer from the MJur Program at Oxford. And my appreciation to the generous support from the David and Jayne Paterson Educational Trust are beyond any expression. My sincere belief is that those who negotiate the world of legal justice and economical efficiency have the potential to make profound change to the world. And there is no doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Paterson are the representatives among them.

I'm looking forward to my journey at Oxford and to becoming a well-qualified China-based international lawyer in the future.